An apparatus (26) for mounting a display screen (28) to a printed circuit board (32). The display screen (28) has four edges. The apparatus (26) includes a top member (34) opposed to a bottom member (36), and first and second snap-fit members (40). The top member (34) and the bottom member (36) each form an overhang (38), wherein each overhang (38) is adapted to receive an edge (30) of the display screen (28). The first snap-fit member (40) is connected with and extended outwards from the top member (34). The second snap-fit member (40) is also connected with and extended outwards from the bottom member (36). Both the first and the second snap-fit members (40) are adapted to connect with the printed circuit board (32) for snap-fit assembly of the mounting apparatus (26) to the printed circuit board (32).
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus for mounting a display screen to a printed circuit board, the display screen having four edges, the apparatus comprising: a top member opposed to a bottom member, the top member and the bottom member each forming an overhang, wherein each overhang is adapted to receive an edge of the display screen; a first snap-fit member connected with and extending outwards from the top member; a second snap-fit member connected with and extending outwards from the bottom member, wherein the first and second snap-fit members are adapted to connect with the printed circuit board for snap-fit assembly of the mounting apparatus to the printed circuit board.
2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top member forms a top sidewall, wherein the top sidewall abuts against a first edge of the display screen when the display screen is received by the mounting apparatus.
3. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connecting member connected with the top member and the bottom member.
4. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board forms first and second mating holes for receiving the first and second snap-fit members.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top member and the bottom member each have a connector slot, wherein each connector slot is adapted to receive an elastomeric connector.
6. A method for mounting a display screen to a printed circuit board, the method comprising: attaching the display screen to the mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the edges of the display screen are received by the overhangs; and attaching the mounting apparatus the printed circuit board with snap-fit members.
7. The mounting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the bottom member forms a bottom sidewall, wherein the bottom sidewall abuts against a second edge of the display screen when the display screen is received by the mounting apparatus.
8. The mounting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second snap-fit members are each adapted to connect with an edge of the printed circuit board.
9. The mounting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the top member, the bottom member, and the connecting member are all integrally formed as one piece.
10. The mounting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the connecting member forms a connecting sidewall, and wherein the connecting sidewall abuts against a third edge of the display screen when the display screen is received by the mounting apparatus.
11. The mounting apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first snap fit member comprises a flange which extends outwards from the top member and a head connected to the flange, wherein the head has a maximum width which is greater than the width of the first mating hole.
12. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an elastomeric connector located in each connector slot.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the snap fit members are pushed through mating holes formed on the printed circuit board.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the connecting member forms a connecting sidewall, and wherein the connecting sidewall abuts against a third edge of the display screen when the display screen is attached to the mounting apparatus.
15. An electronic sub-assembly comprising: a display screen; a printed circuit board; a mounting apparatus comprising: a top member opposed to a bottom member, the top member and the bottom member each forming an overhang, wherein each overhang receives an edge of the display screen; a first snap-fit member connected with and extending outwards from the top member; a second snap-fit member connected with and extending outwards from the bottom member, wherein the first and second snap-fit members are connected with the printed circuit board.
16. The electronic sub-assembly of claim 15 , wherein the top member and the bottom member are all integrally formed as one piece.
17. The electronic sub-assembly of claim 15 , wherein the top member and the bottom member each form a sidewall that abuts against an edge of the display screen.
18. The electronic sub-assembly of claim 15 , wherein the top member and the bottom member each form a connector slot, and wherein the electronic display sub-assembly further comprises an elastomeric connector located in each connector slot.
19. The electronic sub-assembly of claim 15 , wherein the display screen is a liquid crystal display screen.
20. The electronic sub-assembly of claim 15 , wherein the printed circuit board forms first and second mating holes for receiving the first and second snap-fit members.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 26, 2002
December 9, 2003
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